Director-General concerned about the impact of the floods in South-East Europe

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, wrote today to the Presidents of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, to express deep concern over the devastating impact of floods in the region. Hundreds of thousands of people have been affected in what is one of the region’s worst natural disasters in modern history. Many remain in need of immediate of life saving support.

“I wish to present my deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the people affected by this natural calamity,” the Director-General said. “I welcome the leadership shown by the national authorities, the support provided by the neighbouring countries and the international community. At this critical juncture, it is essential that solidarity be further stepped up to allow for relief and recovery. As hundreds of schools and many cultural sites have been directly affected, UNESCO stands ready to assist in the recovery process.”

Together with UN partners, UNESCO is supporting the national authorities to assess the impact of the disaster on the education system, cultural heritage and media.